By Mary N. DiZazzo

Fascinating Fingernail Facts (Part I)

Ciao bella,

These amazing facts on nails, feet, and hands will surprise everyone.

A healthy fingernail takes about six months to grow out completely and a healthy toe nail takes more than one year to grow out.

According to Guinness World Records 2007, a Salt Lake City resident hasn’t cut her fingernails since 1979 and has carefully manicured her nails to help them grow nearly 25 feet. Each nail averages 29 inches.

Fingernails don’t continue to grow after a persons dies. Rather the body dehydrates after death making the skin around the nails pull back and give the appearance of nail growth.

In order to enhance their ability to strum guitar strings without a pick and produce a certain sound, some professional guitar players don nail enhancements or wraps. And many classical guitarists follow meticulous nailcare routines.

Nails tend to grow at a faster rate during the summertime, and they usually grow faster on a person’s dominant hand.

The 27 bones in each hand and 26 bones in each foot combined make up more than one-half of all the bones of the human body.

It has been rumored—but not proven—that Anne Boleyn, one of the most controversial queens of England, had an extra fingernail on one of her pinkie fingers.

So all of you “glamour pusses” stay tuned for Part II of Fascinating Facts.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my readers and am glad you have enjoyed reading as much as I have had writing.

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

Have you missed any of Mary's columns in the Post-Gazette? Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns on her website www.mary4nails.com. She is a third-generation cosmetologist and owner of Mary for Nails, etc. natural nailcare salon in Andover, and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183. She also sees select clients by appointment in Boston at (617) 742-6881.